EPA proposes changes to coal ash disposal regulation

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On March 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released proposed revisions​ to an Obama-era regulation from 2015 that regulated disposal of coal ash. Opponents criticized the “one-size-fits-all” approach of the original regulation, so the EPA committed to revisiting 16 provisions in the original rule after President Trump was inaugurated.

Utilities expressed concerns that groundwater remediation costs could be significant, and states indicated they would like more flexibility than the existing regulation offers.

The rule proposed on March 2 will address two provisions in the existing regulation, with the remaining 14 addressed in a second proposal planned for the fall. NGWA plans to file comments on the proposal rule.

The proposed revisions have the potential to weaken protections on groundwater resources, given utility concerns over remediation costs.